Before I can return to the United States I have one more race in Europe -
March 14-17, 2014 : Istrian Spring Trophy



Finally! I get to face off against the lower tier cyclists.



Too bad I'm still working on getting my form up.
At least it's a free role for 4 days and I'm away from crying Zooey.
(Don't tell Chloe I said that... I'm sorry but Zoe is giving me headaches.)
The rest of the team will be looking after Ivan Gutierrez.

--- *** --- *** --- *** ---



A super short prologue, just 2 kilometers, to get things started.



I'm the 1st rider to go for Desigual. I had never ridden such a short TT before and it cost me. Wait... that's not true. I almost forget my first amateur win. However, I'm going to blame it on being the 1st rider on the team to go
because I didn't set a very good time.



The winner was Tobias Ludvigsson from Synergy.
I was 15 seconds slower than him but that was only good for 113th.
Gutierrez proved why he is the leader by finishing 19th, just 9 seconds off.

Keep Gutierrez at the front is my goal for today.



Pat on the back for me because I do just that as it's a mass dash for the finish.



Gutierrez isn't the best climber but he finishes 7th,
leading the second group home 22 seconds behind
the winner and new GC leader Fabio Aru.
I hang on to finish 17th, in the third group, losing 35 seconds to Aru.

The team has given me the green light to go crazy and make something happen!



Jump to 5kms left, the morning breakaway has been caught. Let's go! It's time!



Come and catch me. I need to win my first pro race...



The banner! Don't look back, Aru is coming strong. Come on! I got this!



Nooooooooo! I hit the wall with 750 meters to go. It's my poor stamina.



Victory to Patrik Sinkewitz. I slip all the way back to 15th.

No plans for today, at least not for me.
I get to rest after what happen yesterday.



Hold on. I get last minute orders to get the bonus seconds with Fraile since a breakaway failed to get away, I move up a few spots in the GC standings.



Heading to the finish Desigual tries to pull off the break the chain trick.
Gutierrez gets into the fast sprint train with Silvestre on his wheel.
Silvestre quits peddling and Gutierrez gets a gap on the peloton, this is brilliant!



Lars Van der Haar from the breakaway gets the win but all eyes are
now on Gutierrez trying to steal the overall victory on a flat stage!



The sprinters, certainly not happy with Desigual's tactics, storm back to eliminate the time gap; Gutierrez at least gets a top 10 for the stage and 7th overall.
I finish 30th overall but I'm more upset that I didn't get my first pro win.

+2 EXP for experience on short prologue and gutsy attack on stage 3.

Next race update will be the Volkswagen Sea Otter Classic:

EXP - Recovery, Sprint / Form - Hills (x2), Acceleration

"Chloe, grab Zooey. I'll get the bags. Hurry. We are going to miss the flight."

"Calm down Travis, we'll make it on time."



I guess she was right. We made it. Welcome back to California - my 2nd home.

"Wazzup! How's your new team Desigual? Did I hook you up or what?"

It was great to see Kyle again. I needed some guy time for a change.
To reminisce on the good old times we went to the bar where we first met.
A few beers on the house and I break from changing Zooey's diapers was nice.

But I was here to race, and I couldn't wait to race in the Sea Otter Classic!
It's the first time Chloe and Zooey will get to see me race professional.

Hopefully that's the extra motivation I need to get a great result.

It's a few hours drive up to Monterey from Los Angeles but it went by
fairly quick with my extra incentive, Chloe and Zooey, in the passenger seat.
April 10-13, 2014 : Volkswagen Sea Otter Classic



I'm so sick of racing against Aru. The Italian is a step above everyone here.



Say hello to your Captain. It's my first time as leader for Desigual.
It's time to make my teammates, fiancee, and baby proud.
(even if Zooey has no clue on what's going on...)

--- *** --- *** --- *** ---



Three stages on the Laguna Seca Circuit varying in length and checkpoints.
Stage 3 brings in the only variation with a 10km individual time trial.



Jose Aguilar attacks right from the gun. Riders are scrambling to catch him.



Fast forward to three circuits left. Joshua Berry helps me launch an attack!
Aguilar is still the lone leader, and peloton is slow to react to my move.



Second to last time up the final incline. I catch the middle guy on the road.
Aguiler is 2 minutes further ahead, the peloton is a minute behind.



On the downhill Aguiler spots me, and gives me a weird hand gesture.
I'm not that good with Spanish sign language yet.



Apparently his signal meant that he was going to slow up to protect me.
The peloton is closing in. Aguiler is dropping back.
We have hit the final climb up to the finish!



Past the banner and past Aguiler. Could it really be?



YES! YES! YES!



My first professional stage win!



Kisses all around. Podium girls, Chloe, and Zooey. What a day!

+3 EXP for... yeah, you didn't read the report if you need to know why.

EXP Points to be applied after the end of the tour.

EXP - Stamina (x2), Resistance